Aloe x Haworthia hybrid plant named ‘AMIAL 1601’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Aloe aristata x Haworthia limifolia hybrid plant named ‘AMIAL1601’, which is characterized by long, broad and thick succulent foliage, foliage arranged in multiple whorls which, together, create a tall rosette, and dark green foliage with very light green orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular, wavy transverse rows across the upper and lower leaf surfaces. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Aloe aristata x Haworthia limifolia.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Aloe x Haworthia hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIAL1601’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIAL1601’ is an intergeneric hybrid seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed Aloe aristata plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Haworthia limifolia plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in the spring of 2011 at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In the summer of 2013, one seedling was observed which exhibited unique growth and foliage characteristics. After confirming the stability of the unique characteristics first observed, the new plant was selected for commercialization and given the name, ‘AMIAL1601’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1601’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2014 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. The claimed plant has since been asexually propagated by way of meristematic tissue culture propagation. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIAL1601’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘AMIAL1601’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘AMIAL1601’ as a new and distinct Aloe x Haworthia hybrid cultivar:

-   1. ‘AMIAL1601’ exhibits succulent foliage arranged in multiple     whorls which, together, create a tall rosette; and -   2. ‘AMIAL1601’ exhibits inner whorls of foliage held upright and     outer whorls of foliage held more loosely; and -   3. ‘AMIAL1601’ exhibits long, broad and thick foliage with an ovate     shape; and -   4. ‘AMIAL1601’ exhibits dark green foliage with very light green     orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular, wavy transverse rows     across the upper and lower leaf surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘AMIAL1601’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 14 months old, shown planted in a 10 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘AMIAL1601.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIAL1601’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIAL1601’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in January of 2017 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 14 months old ‘AMIAL1601’ plants grown in 10 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Aloe and Haworthia plants which consisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, and chemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug, Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade and no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIAL1601’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIAL1601’ and a comparison with the parents and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant shape.—Globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—10.1 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 15.9 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Low to moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings and meristematic tissue             culture. Time to initiate rooting — Approximately 20 days at             18 degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 30 weeks to             produce a marketable plant in a 7 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Aloe and Haworthia             pests and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low             tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;             no main branches or lateral branches present. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette comprised of multiple whorls of             foliage.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 5 leaves per whorl and a total of 22             leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves; ovate in shape.         -   Dimensions.—9.0 cm long, 3.4 cm wide, and 0.8 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Slightly concaved and lightly curved downward at an             average angle of 40 degrees to horizontal.         -   Attitude.—Inner whorls of foliage are upright; outer whorls             of foliage are held more loosely.         -   Apex.—Apiculate, with a soft mucronate tip.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate.         -   Margin.—Finely dentate; teeth have an average length of 0.1             cm and are colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 192D.             Margins are not undulated or lobed.         -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and moderately to densely             covered with orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular,             wavy transverse rows across the leaf surface; protuberances             grown into short, soft spines towards the apex,             approximately 3.0 mm high and 1.0 mm in diameter.         -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous and densely covered with             orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular, wavy             transverse rows across the leaf surface; protuberances grown             into short, soft spines towards the apex, approximately 3.0             mm high and 1.0 mm in diameter.         -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Very slightly glossy.         -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to             RHS 143A; fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest             to RHS 146B; darker towards the apex, nearest to a mixture             of RHS NN137A and NN137B; protuberances are colored             greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 193C and 193D.             Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of             green and yellow-green, nearest to RHS 143A and 146A; fading             to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to RHS N144D;             darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS NN137A;             protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture             of RHS 193C and 193D. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — In             between yellow-green, RHS 147A, and greyed-green, RHS N189A;             lighter greyed-green towards the base, nearest to RHS 194B;             protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture             of RHS 191B, 191C, and 191D. Mature foliage, abaxial surface             — In between green, RHS 139A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A;             fading to a mixture of yellow-green and greyed-green towards             the base, nearest to RHS 146A and 194B; protuberances are             colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 191B and             191C.         -   Venation.—No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1601’ differ from the seed parent, an unnamed Aloe aristata (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘AMIAL1601’ Aloe aristata seed parent Plant height. Taller than the parent. Shorter than ‘AMIAL1601’. Quantity of leaves Approximately 5 leaves. Approximately 10 per whorl of leaves. foliage. Leaf size. Leaves are longer and Leaves are shorter and broader than those of the narrower than those of parent. ‘AMIAL1601’. Leaf thickness. Leaves are thicker than Leaves are thinner than those of the parent. those of ‘AMIAL1601’. Leaf firmness. Firmer than those of the Less firm than those of parent. ‘AMIAL1601’. Leaf Protuberances arranged in Protuberances are less protuberances. irregular, wavy transverse conspicuous. rows.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1601’ differ from the pollen parent, an unnamed Haworthia limifolia plant (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Haworthia limifolia Characteristic ‘AMIAL1601’ pollen parent Quantity of leaves per Approximately 5 leaves. Approximately 7 to 15 whorl of foliage. leaves. Leaf size. Larger than those of the Smaller than those of parent. ‘AMIAL1601’. Foliage margins. Finely dentate with larger Finely dentate with teeth than those of the much smaller parent. teeth than those of ‘AMIAL1601’. General coloration of Very light green. Green; same color as the foliar the leaf surface. protuberances. Leaf protuberances. Protuberances arranged in Protuberances are less irregular, wavy transverse conspicuous. rows.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1601’ differ from the commercial variety, Gasteria ‘WT03’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 30451) in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘AMIAL1601’ ‘WT03’ Foliage attitude. Inner whorls of Foliage in all foliage are held whorls is held upright; outer whorls very upright. are held more loosely. Abundance of foliage. Less abundant. More abundant. Foliage margins. Finely dentate with Finely dentate larger teeth than with smaller those of ‘WT03’. teeth than those of ‘AMIAL1601’. General coloration Green. Dark greyed-green. of the mature foliage. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Aloe aristata x Haworthia limifolia plant named ‘AMIAL1601’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 